french



(No Model.)

N. W. FRENCH.

WIRE FENCE CLASP AND WEDGE. No. 392,506. P88811888 Nov. 6, 1888..

TNT/M5555. In HEW/fly:

( I v M a? UNITED STATES PATENT ()rrrcs.

NAHUM \V. FRENCH, OF ITORTH HAVERHILL, NEW HAMPSHIRE WIRE-FENCE CLASP AND WEDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,506, dated November 6, 1888. Application filed April 30, 1888. Serial No. 272,360. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NAHUM FRENCH, of North Haverhill, in the county of Grafton and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps for Wire Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in clasps for wire fences; and it consists in a clasp having a wedge formed integral therewith and which projects from one side of the clasp for the purpose of forcing apart the strands of wire, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a clasp for attaching the strands of wire to the fence-posts and to form as a part of the clasp a wedge upon one side, so that it will enter between the strands of wires and separate them, so as to allow them to be forced over the clasp and thus secured to the post.

Figure 1 is a perspective of a clasp embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the clasp, showing it placed upon the post and the wires secured to the clasp.

A represents a ring or clasp, which may be of any desired shape, size, or construction that may be preferred, and which is to be passed down over a fence-post of any kind, but which is especially adapted for use in connection with metallic posts. These clasps are passed down over the top of the posts and can be adjusted vertically thereon, so as to bring the strands of wire into any desired position.

gral part thereof and a recess or Formed integral with this clasp, upon one side or end, is the wedge 13, which may be given any desired shape or length, and which has the recess 0 formed through its inner side or end to receive the wedge D, which fastens the strands of wire to the fence-post. The Wedge B is made sufficiently sharp to be readily forced between the strands of wire out of which the fence is formed and to separate them, so that they can be readily forced over this wedge into contact with the side of the post. After the strands of wire have been forced over this wedge B and against the fence-post a wedge in the shape of a nail or any similar device is forced down through the notch C, so as to rigidly clamp the wires against the post and at the same time secure the clasp in position upon it. The strands of wire being twisted tightly together, it becomes necessary to force them apart before they can be fastened to the clasp, and in order to do away with the use of tools of any kind for separating the wires the wedge is formed as an integral part of the clasp itself, as here shown. The projecting point of the wedge B could be omitted, leaving the plain clasp, and not depart from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- A clasp having a wedge formed as an inteopening in the inner side or edge of the wedge, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

, NAHUM IV. FRENCH.

WVitnesscs:

WM. H. SHURTLEFF, SAMUEL B. PAGE. 

